Packaging for retortable pouch

Abstract

A compound food package having a sealed, heat resistant pouch and a container therefor, is disclosed. The pouch, which contains uniformly distributed food items, has a substantially flat circumferential seam. The container is composed of semi-rigid plastic material. It contains a cavity into which the pouch is placed. The container has substantially flat rim portions. The rim portions engage the seam of the pouch and position and hold the pouch by its seam. The pouch is in intimate contact with the inner surfaces of the container, thereby counteracting inwardly directed forces and significantly contributing to the overall strength of the package.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A compound package for food products comprising: a sealed enclosure of substantially flat overall appearance having a portion wherein the food products are contained and a peripheral edge which is substantially narrower in cross section than the food products containing portion, and   a container for accommodating the enclosure and configured to define a cavity of substantially the same size as said food containing portion and to be in contact with a substantial portion of the outer surface of the enclosure, and for fully surrounding at least the food products containing portion of the enclosure, the container having at least two substantially flat portions dimensioned to be superimposed in close proximity relative to one another, the flat portions being configured to accommodate between one another and to be in contact with the peripheral edge of the enclosure whereby the enclosure is held in position within the container and whereby the enclosure lends structural support to the container against a crushing force, and the like and whereby the container protects the enclosure from being damaged by a sharp object and the like.   
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the container further comprises an upper and a lower member each having at least one of the substantially flat portions. 
     
     
       3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the lower and upper members each have the substantially flat portion at their respective peripheral edge. 
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the lower and upper members each further comprise a substantially flat center portion and an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion sloping from the peripheral edge towards the center portion. 
     
     
       5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the upper and lower members are permanently and pivotally mounted to one another by a thin portion comprising a living hinge. 
     
     
       6. A food package assembly comprising: a pouch containing food for storage for an indeterminate time, the pouch having a food containing portion and a substantially flat peripheral edge which comprises a sealed seam; and   a container for the pouch, the container comprising two members pivotally mounted relative to one another, the two members being configured to define a cavity of substantially the same size of said food containing portion and wherein the pouch is accommodated, each member having an inside surface which is superimposed to and in contact with at least a substantial portion of a major surface of the pouch whereby the container entirely surrounds at least the food containing portion of the pouch and the pouch lends structural support to the container, each member having a peripheral edge which in a closed posture of the container engages the seam of the pouch whereby the pouch is held in position within the container.   
     
     
       7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the sealed seam is disposed around the entire periphery of the pouch and wherein the entire seam is engaged by the two members of the container. 
     
     
       8. The invention of claim 6 wherein the container is of a plastic foam material and wherein the two members are mounted to one another by a narrow portion comprising a living hinge. 
     
     
       9. The invention of claim 8 wherein the container is substantially rectangular in shape. 
     
     
       10. In a food package assembly having a substantially flat heat resistant pouch containing food for storage for an indeterminate duration, the pouch having a sealed seam surrounding the entire periphery of the pouch, the improvement comprising: a container of unitary construction for the pouch, the container having two panel members pivotally mounted relative to one another and capable of occupying a closed position wherein the container is substantially flat, the two panel members when closed are configurated to define a cavity of substantially the same size as said food containing portion and to be in contact with a substantial majority of the outer surface of the pouch whereby the cavity accommodates the pouch, each panel member having rim portions dimensioned to engage and hold the same of the pouch in the closed position of the container thereby holding the pouch in position within the container, the assembled pouch and container comprising the food package assembly wherein the pouch lends structural strength to the container and the container protects the pouch against rupture and like damage.   
     
     
       11. The improvement of claim 10 wherein the two panel members are mounted to one another by a thin plastic portion joining an edge of each panel member, the thin plastic portion being adapted for repeated bending motion. 
     
     
       12. The improvement of claim 11 wherein the container is substantially rectangular in shape. 
     
     
       13. The improvement of claim 10 wherein the pouch comprises a first and a second sheet of laminated material said first and second sheets being attached to one another at the sealed seam, and wherein the entire food package assembly has a substantially rectangular and flat configuration.